TASMANIA REPORTS OF CRIME 1861-1883

Do you have Tasmanian ancestors?

"Reports of Crime" are what was later referred to as "Police Gazettes". These gazettes provided information and instructions to members of the police force. Tasmanian Police Gazettes include information like: apprehensions; convict returns; disciplining of police; escapees and absconders from custody; burglaries; licensed carriers; deserters; inquests; missing people; murderers and their victims; police resignations; prisoners discharged from gaols and released on tickets of leave; property recovered; rewards; and details of victims.

Gazettes are published by governments and their agencies as a means of communication to officials and the general public. As such they are useful, not only to monitor the actions of the government, but also as far as family historians are concerned, they are valuable primary source documents.

"What information will I find in these reports?"

Names

Other personal details (in some cases)

Descriptions

Photographs

Addresses

Occupations

So, if you have ancestry who may have lived in the Tasman region, it's worth giving these records a go! They're a great genealogy tool for building your family tree or finding out lots of hidden treasures about your family past.